10 Harsh Realities Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom Is Already Facing

Summary

• Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is facing numerous obstacles that may hinder its success, including controversies surrounding Amber Heard and a declining trend in DCEU box office performances.
• Aquaman's appearance in The Flash did not generate the desired excitement for his own upcoming film, and rumors of Jason Momoa's on-set intoxication may have further dampened enthusiasm.
• The lack of plans for future Aquaman installments and the DCU reboot undermine the potential for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom to have a lasting impact, while poor test screenings and a crowded release date add to the challenges it faces.

Before Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom even hits theaters in December, it has a litany of hurdles to clear when it comes to the daunting task of making its money back. The first Aquaman film did relatively well, earning the coveted title of one of the highest-earning DCEU movies. But despite this promising start to Aquaman's standalone story in the larger universe, the film's success is already being hamstrung by several factors that are impossible to ignore.
Most of the issues the film will have to overcome in terms of optics revolve around the multiple controversies circling around co-lead Amber Heard, who played Aquaman's wife and queen of Atlantis, Mera. Her messy, very public legal proceedings with ex-husband Johnny Depp spelled disaster for the Aquaman sequel, resulting in rumors being circulated regarding her treatment on set. Not only that, but Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will be the unceremonious final film in the DCEU, the entire franchise being rebooted with the release of James Gunn's Superman: Legacy.